Tamperproof closure



DQ H. TlLsoN 2,3%?,956

TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1942 INVENTQR ATTO NEY the neck of container II.

I2 may be extended not ly known knurling lPatel'ited Oct. 30,1945

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAMPEBPROOF CLOSURE Donald H. Tilson,

New Kensington, Pa., assigner to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original'application January 8, 1 942, `Serial No.

This application, which is a division of my copending application' Serial No. 426,005 for im. .provements in Tamperproof closure, filed January 8,1942, relates the type reformed pliable metal closure adapted to have a flange intumed under a shoulder Whi' 'n is tamperproof.

Another object is to provide a tamperproof closure which, because of fractured` or mutilated portions thereof, will indicate its initial removal from a containerto which it has been reformed. Atclosure embodying the invention permits no access to the interior of a container without apparent irreparable and telltale damage to the closure. This damage need not impair the further -use of the closure but will always serve to evidence its initial 'removal from which it has been reformed. The invention.. appear more clearly by reference to the drawing of a simple embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a A the tamperproof feature of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the closure shown of a container finish in Fig. 1 before its reformation on a container;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tamperproof closure as it Vappears reformed ona container; and I closure reformed on a container.

Y Referring now to. the drawing, the closure I may be made of any pliable material capable of permanent deformation and ready tearing. Thin metal, preferably aluminum, is suitable. The closure I0 iscylindrical or cup-like'in its preliminary shape and `may have its skirt reformed into close contact with the finish or shoulder at slightly above the bottom of the skirt and-ex;-

tended vertically upwardabout half the skirtl length a scored, corrugated or fluted band I2. For reasons appearing hereinafter I prefer to locate band l2 so as to include and extend on is folded when reformed to a container. Band quite to the edge of the skirt to leave a.I short unweakened strip I6.

a container to objects of this plan View of a closure embodying` Flg4 is a vertical section of the tamperproof 'There is provided both sides of the line along which the cap skirt Strip I i offers protection against splitting in nor- 'mal handling.

Band I2 may be formed easily by the commonoperation which is produced by rotating a tool against the backed up' closure Divided and this application May 29, 1942, Serial N 444,953

5 Claims. (Cl. 21S-38) closure section selected for the location of the band I2; that is, the periphery of a cross .section taken through the formed band is sinuous and,

much, greater in length than the circumference of the skirt before impressing the' band. The i y necessary effect of forming minute flutes`orj ':or rugations is to thin out sections'of the skirt.

The band is weakened by being so thinned and embrittled by the cold working of the metal resulting therefrom.

I prefer to form this weakened band prior to reforming the cap onto the closure nish, and

- have found that by properly selecting the tool according to the nature of the material from which the cap is made, it is possible to weaken the band to the extent that it will withstand the bend required to reform the closure on the container nish but will not withstand, without splitting, the reverse bend necessary tc pry it therefrom.

The closure set out in the drawing is an example of one of the many types to which my invention is applicable. It may be provided as shown with the usual sealing liner I3 of well known construction and pllrPOSe and an ordinary tear tab Il. Beneath the teartab I4 and over the liner I3 a protective and/or reinforcing disc I 5, preferably of metal, may be provided. Disc I5 may be used to prevent entry into the container through the sealing liner Ilwhen the tear tab I4 is lifted. In aclosure of the type where a tear tab is located depending from the skirt, or in a closure where no means of any kind are provided for facilitating opening, disc I5 may not be required.

The closure is placed over a container and reformed thereon in theusual manner. The normal reforming operation produces a gradual, uniform pressure either by rolling or squeezing on the section being reformed. Suchreforming pressure will not split the closure skirt.

The closure, whenreformed to a container as shown in Figs. .3 and 4, effects a tamperproof package. Any attempt to pry the iange from under the shoulder of the container results in splittingl the closure skirt. An attempt of this sort would includethe insertion of an instrument such as a blade between the edge of the closure skirt and the neck of the container. Before spreading force applied through the instrument can accomplish its purpose, strip I8 will sever. A split through strip I6 will immediately carry over into the adjacent part of weakened band i2 lying in the underturned flange and progress up around the shoulder and into the straight sides of the closure skirt through the upper portion of band I2 where it will be readily visible. This visible split, serving as an indicator, will prevent unnoticed removal of the closure from the container.

I do not mean to limit my'invention to the closure represented in the drawing or to one formed only i in the manner described above. They are but examples. My invention encompasses, and I mean to include therein, other embodiments and variations which will be apparent at once to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A tamperproof package comprising a container having ashouldered finish, a drawn pliable closure reformed thereon having a lower skirt portion thereof formed as a flange beneath said shoulder, a circumferential weakened section of vertical knurling formed in said skirt, said section being disposed so as to begin substantially at the bottom vof said skirt and traverse said flange to substantially above the same.

2. 'A drawn pliable closure for a container comprising a top portion and a depending` continuous skirt, a. circumferential weakened band of vertical furrows formed in said skirt in spaced relation to the lower edge of said skirt. said band being adapted to be reformed in part under the shoulder of the container finish.

3. In combination, a container havinga shouldered finish and a drawn tamperproof closure, said closure comprising a top portion, a depending continuous skirt, a circumferential weakened band of vertical furrows formed in said skirt in spaced relation to the lower edge thereof, and a flange formed from the lower portion of said furrowed band and vdisposed under the shoulder of said container finish.

an exterior shoulder and a pliable metal closure -having a top portion and a depending skirt with ,its lower edge reformed as a flange under said shoulder, a circumferential thinned andA embrittled band sinuous in cross section formed in said skirt in spaced relation to the lower edge thereof and traversing said flange to substantially split vertically when said flange is forced from beneath said shoulder.

DONALD H. rIfILSQN.

above the same, whereby said band will 

